1
a
: a defect in physical structure or form
a diamond with a flaw
b
: an imperfection or weakness and especially one that detracts from the whole or hinders effectiveness
Vanity was the one flaw in his character.
There are a few flaws in your argument.
a flaw in the book's plot
2
obsolete
: fragment
flawed; flawing; flaws
: to become defective
1
: a sudden brief burst of wind
… the wind changed with flaws from westward …—
Archibald MacLeish
Archibald MacLeish
also
: a spell of stormy weather
2
obsolete
: an outburst especially of passion
Examples of flaw in a Sentence
Noun (1)
noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it
Verb
that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced
Recent Examples on the Web
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
In a moment when AI and digital technology allows for on-demand perfection, there’s a creeping thrill to the possibility of flaws and dissonance.
—Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
The results were often imperfect or flawed, which required manual correction and refinement.
—Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaw
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Noun
In addition, inherent design flaws contributed to the disaster, notably the graphite end switches of the neutron-absorbing rods.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
In a moment when AI and digital technology allows for on-demand perfection, there’s a creeping thrill to the possibility of flaws and dissonance.
—Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
The journey has surely been flawed, but this transition to being open about the fluidity of her sexuality is somewhat unprecedented in Housewives’ history.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
The results were often imperfect or flawed, which required manual correction and refinement.
—Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Cite this Entry
“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flaw. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flaw
1 of 2 noun
: a small often hidden defect
flawless
adjective
-ləs
flawlessly
adverb
flawlessness
noun
flaw
2 of 2 verb
: to make or become defective
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